Typewriting machines – Including control of format and selection of type-face by...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-28
2003-12-23
Eickholt, Eugene H. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including control of format and selection of type-face by...
C400S611000, C400S615200, C400S708000, C101S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06666593
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape printing apparatus and an image forming method and a label producing method for the tape printing apparatus.
2. Prior Art
Recently, a wide variety of tapes different in width, background color, background pattern, material (texture), and the like are provided as tapes mountable within a tape printing apparatus. The user selects a desired type from the tapes, mounts the same in a tape printing apparatus, prints desired print images on it, and produces a label printed with the images.
However, in the conventional tape printing apparatus of the above-mentioned kind, it is not assumed that a plurality of types of tapes are overlaid and affixed to each other, and print images are edited and formed so as to be printed strictly on one type of a tape mounted therein. As a result, it has been impossible to produce a label by integrally using a plurality of types selected from a wide variety of types of tapes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the invention to provide an image forming method and a label producing method for a tape printing apparatus, which makes it possible to integrally utilize a plurality of types of tapes different in width, background color, background pattern, material (texture), and the like, and thereby produce a diversified and attractive label.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a tape printing apparatus which is capable of integrally using a plurality of types of tapes different in width, background color, background pattern, material (texture), and the like, thereby forming and printing print images for use in producing diversified and attractive labels.
To attain the above first object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming method for a tape printing apparatus that prints at least a first print image adapted to a first tape on at least the first tape.
The image forming method according to the first aspect of the invention is characterized by comprising the steps of:
setting a second print image area as an affixing area for having a second print image affixed thereto, in an area of the first print image, such that the second print image can be affixed to the affixing area, the second print image being printed on a second tape having a width equal to or smaller than that of the first tape; and
forming a first print image having the second print image area provided therein.
According to this image forming method, in the tape printing apparatus for printing the first print image on the first tape in a manner adapted to a width of the first tape, the first print image is formed. Particularly, the second print image area, to which is affixed the second tape having a width equal to or smaller than that of the first tape, is set in the area of the first print image so as to form a first print image having the second print image area provided therein. Consequently, after the first print image is formed, if the image is printed on the first tape, it is possible to make the first label from a portion of the first tape printed with the image, and affix the second label formed by another tape (second tape) printed with the second print image, onto (the second print image area of the first print image of) the first label, thereby producing a new label (composite label) (as a result of synthesis by affixation). In this case, as the second tape, a tape different in type from the first tape can be selected from various types of tapes, so that it is possible to edit and produce the first print image by making use of the difference between the tapes. This makes it possible to integrally make use of a plurality of types of tapes which are different in width, background color, background pattern, texture, and so forth, thereby producing a diversified and attractive composite label.
Preferably, the first print image includes a plurality of paragraphs, and the step of setting the second print image area includes assigning at least one of the plurality of paragraphs to the second print image area.
According to this preferred embodiment, the first print image includes a plurality of paragraphs, and at least one of the plurality of paragraphs is set to be assigned to the second print image area when the second print image is affixed. Hence, if the first print image is printed on the first tape, and the second print image is printed on the second tape different from the first tape in width, background color, background pattern, texture, and the like, to properly affix the same onto the second print image area (synthesize the second print image with the first print image), it is possible to assign at least one paragraph to the second print image. This makes it possible to produce (a first print image for) a composite label appearing to be provided with an attractive paragraph-enclosing box.
Preferably, the first print image includes a plurality of lines, and the step of setting the second print image area includes assigning at least one of the plurality of paragraphs to the second print image area.
According to this preferred embodiment, the first print image includes a plurality of lines, and at least one of the plurality of paragraphs is assigned to the second print image area when the second print image is affixed. Hence, if the first print image is printed on the first tape, and the second print image is printed on the second tape different from the first tape in width, background color, background pattern, texture, and the like, to affix (synthesize) the same on the second print image area, it is possible to assign at least one line to the second print image. This makes it possible to produce (a first print image for) a composite label appearing to be provided with an attractive line-enclosing box.
Preferably, the first print image has a literal string formed of a plurality of characters, and the step of setting the second print image area includes assigning at least part of the literal string to the second print image area.
According to this preferred embodiment, the first print image has a literal string including a plurality of characters, and at least part of the literal string is assigned to the second print image area when the second print image is affixed. Hence, if the first print image is printed on the first tape, and the second print image is printed on the second tape different from the first tape in width, background color, background pattern, texture, and the like, to affix (synthesize) the same on the second print image area, it is possible to assign at least part of the literal string to the second print image. This makes it possible to produce (a first print image for) a composite label appearing to be provided with an attractive literal string-enclosing box (character-enclosing box).
Preferably, the first print image includes a plurality of characters, and the step of setting the second print image area includes assigning at least one of the plurality of characters to the second print image area.
According to this preferred embodiment, the first print image includes a plurality of characters, and at least one of the plurality of characters is assigned to the second print image area when the second print image is affixed. Hence, if the first print image is printed on the first tape, and the second print image is printed on the second tape different from the first tape in width, background color, background pattern, texture, and the like, to affix (synthesize) the same on the second print image area, it is possible to assign at least one character to the second print image. This makes it possible to produce (a first print image for) a composite label appearing to be provided with an attractive character-enclosing box.
Preferably, the step of setting the second print image area includes setting the second print image area such that the second print image area is contained in the area of the first print image in a manner enclosed by a double enclosing box.
According to this preferred embodiment, the second pr
Eickholt Eugene H.
Hogan & Hartson LLP
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